Former FAA contractor admits to espionage for Iran

In the United States, Abouzar Rahmati, a 42-year-old naturalized citizen, has pleaded guilty to acting as a secret agent for Iran. This case began unfolding as he worked as a contractor for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and reportedly began his illicit activities in December 2017. Rahmati was charged with passing sensitive U.S. aviation and solar energy data to Iranian intelligence over a period of approximately seven years. Court documents indicate that he downloaded and stored over 175 GB of classified information regarding the U.S. National Aerospace System, Airport Surveillance Radar systems, and various details about air traffic control and airports. As the geopolitical tension between the United States and Iran heightened, especially under the Trump administration's "maximum pressure" campaign directed at curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions, Rahmati's actions took on greater significance. He stored classified FAA documents and other sensitive files on removable media, which he subsequently provided to Iranian officials in April 2022. His role was not just limited to aviation; he also shared relevant data concerning the solar energy sector, further amplifying the concerns regarding compromised national security. In court, Rahmati admitted to conspiring to act as an agent for a foreign government without notifying proper authorities as required by law. His previous military background as a first lieutenant in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a group designated as a terrorist organization by U.S. officials, added more gravity to the case. With a sentencing date set for August 26, he faces a potential prison term of up to 15 years, indicating the severe nature of his crimes. Rahmati's actions present a worrying trend of espionage that poses risks to national security and the integrity of U.S. infrastructure. This case underscores the need for heightened vigilance within sensitive sectors like aviation and energy, especially against the backdrop of ongoing international tensions. Espionage cases such as Rahmati's signal a pressing need for enhanced security measures and protocols to safeguard critical information from adversaries, ensuring that national interests are sufficiently protected in an increasingly complex global landscape.